Minsa'y isang Gamu-gamo

Minsa'y isang Gamu-gamo

Official poster for the 1976 Metro Manila Film Festival
Directed by Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara
Produced by Digna Santiago writer
Screenplay by Marina Feleo-Gonzales
Story by Marina Feleo-Gonzales
Starring Nora Aunor and Jay Ilagan
Music by Resty Umali
Cinematography Jose Batac Jr.
Edited by Edgardo Vinarao
Distributed by Premiere Productions
Release dates
 25 December 1976
Running time
 110 mins.
Country Philippines Philippines
Language Filipino
Box office ₱ 10.5 million

Minsa'y isang gamu-gamo, Once a Moth is a 1976 Filipino film. It concerns a Filipino nurse, Cora de la Cruz, who dreams of moving to America. When her brother is killed, her ideas change. The film criticises American military presence in the Philippines.[1] It was entered in the 1976 Metro Manila Film Festival and won five awards at the 25th FAMAS Awards, including those for best picture, director and screenplay.

Synopsis

The de la Cruzes and the Santos are two lower-middle-class families who live in Pampanga. Cora de la Cruz is a nurse who dreams of living in the United States. Her papers are ready and she organises employment at an American hospital. She hopes to get a green card allowing her to stay, achieve immigrant status and then bring her family to America for a better life. Cora's mother and younger brother encourage her but her father, Ingkong, disagrees. He believes that moving to America is a betrayal of their country, typical of an old colonial mentality.

Bonifacio Santos is Cora’s fiancee. He intends to join the U.S. Navy so that he can be with Cora in America. His mother and their maid are saving to help him with the expenses. The families make no reference in their plans to instances of crime, including murder, committed by American soldiers in the Philippines who are indemnified against prosecution under laws of extraterritoriality. Bonifacio's mother works at a commissary at an American base. She is mistreated by a Filipino female guard, who strips Santo of her “smuggled” panties and waves them like a flag to the delight the American male guards. Santos takes the matter to court with no success and the guard retaliates by raiding her store. Bonifacio becomes disenchanted with America and abandons his plans.

Cora is appalled at the failure of the Philippine courts to provide justice for Mrs. Santos but continues with her plans to leave for America. On the night of her despedida (farewell party), Cora's brother is shot dead by an American soldier while scavenging in the garbage dump of the American base. Cora stays to seek justice for her brother. She discovers that the case cannot continue as the soldier has been reassigned to another country.[2]

Casts

Controversy

In 1976, criticism of the presence of American military bases in the Philippines was censored by the government. The actress, Nora Aunor, who played Cora, was a friend of the president, Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda Marcos. This may have assisted the release of the film.

Review

Criticism of the film was mixed.[2][3] Tiongson, a reporter for the Philippines Daily Express, wrote:

"Acting in Gamu-gamo is superb. Once again, Nora Aunor proves herself to be one of the finest actresses today, with an acting style that is both “raw”and “fine,” characterized by a disarming sincerity and force, that can break into an unbelievable number of nuances, shades, and colors of emotion. Outstanding is her court scene where her face registers a gamut of emotions—from anger to confusion to depression and despair—in the space of about ten seconds. Like a mature actress, she does not attack dramatic scenes with histrionics or hysteria. Over her brother’s coffin, she curses the Americans who came to pay her family off by screaming “My brother is not a pig” over and over again with mounting intensity."[4]

Awards

Year Group Category Nominee Result
1976 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Editing Edgardo Vinarao Won
Best Story Marina Feleo-Gonzales Won
Best Actress Nora Aunor Nominated
Best Picture Nominated
Best Director Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara Nominated
1977 25th FAMAS Awards Best Picture Won
Best Director Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara Won
Best Editing Edgardo Vinarao Won
Best Screenplay Marina Feleo-Gonzales Won
Best Story Marina Feleo-Gonzales Won
Best Supporting Actor Paquito Salcedo Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Perla Bautista Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Gloria Sevilla Nominated
Gawad Urian Awards (Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino) Best Picture Nora Aunor Nominated
Best Director Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara Nominated
Best Screenplay Marina Feleo-Gonzales Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Leopoldo Salcedo Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Paquito Salcedo Nominated

Film festivals where Minsa'y isang Gamu-gamo has been shown or has competed.

References

  1. ↑ Capino J. B. "Dream Factories of a Former Colony: American Fantasies, Philippine Cinema." University of Minnesota Press, 2010 p39. ISBN 145291527X, 9781452915272. Accessed at Google Books 6 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 Tiongson N. G. "Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo: Filipino with a Passion."The Philippines Daily Express. 1976. Accessed 3 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo." Eboy Donato blog. Accessed 19 July 2013.
  4. ↑ Tiongson N. G. "Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo: Filipino with a Passion." Philippines Daily Express, 29 December 1976.

External links

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